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Health Status and Illness Experiences of Refugee Scavengers in Pakistan

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  • Beenish Malik
  • Novel Lyndon
  • Yew Wong Chin

Abstract

Scavengers are continuously exposed to several health hazards which affect their quality of life. The phenomenon of scavenging in Pakistan is on the rise but literature on scavengers’ health and illness is limited. Hence, this study intends to add to the knowledge by exploring the health status and illness experiences of refugee scavengers using phenomenology approach. Thirty-one adult male Afghan refugee scavengers (with at least 5 years of work experience) were recruited in this qualitative study through purposive sampling. To collect the lived experiences, this study predominantly relied on open-ended, face-to-face, semistructured, and in-depth interviews by using an interview protocol. The qualitative data analyzed with Max van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological reflection revealed that all the scavengers were experiencing multiple health problems ranging from minor to chronic illnesses. These health issues were frequent in nature and had affected their overall life mostly daily activities, job, and earnings. The study concludes with the need to increase literacy among scavengers, raise their health awareness and usage of personal protective equipment at work.

Suggested Citation

  • Beenish Malik & Novel Lyndon & Yew Wong Chin, 2020. "Health Status and Illness Experiences of Refugee Scavengers in Pakistan," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440209, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:10:y:2020:i:1:p:2158244020914562
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244020914562
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Medina, 2011. "Global Supply Chains in Chinese Industrialization: Impact on Waste Scavenging in Developing Countries," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2011-078, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Yousaf Ali & Muhammad Sabir & Noor Muhammad, 2019. "Refugees and Host Country Nexus: a Case Study of Pakistan," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 137-153, February.
    3. Medina, Martin, 2011. "Global Supply Chains in Chinese Industrialization: Impact on Waste Scavenging in Developing Countries," WIDER Working Paper Series 078, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Martin Medina, 2005. "Waste Picker Cooperatives in Developing Countries," Working Papers id:14, eSocialSciences.
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    Cited by:

    1. Um e Hani & Ilyas Hussain Sarfaraz, 2021. "Reviewing Clinical Waste Management Under The Legislative Framework In Pakistan: Practices And Challenges," Journal of Wastes and Biomass Management (JWBM), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 3(2), pages 69-76, August.
    2. Beenish Malik & Novel Lyndon & Yew Wong Chin & Basharat Hussain & Sehrish Malik, 2022. "Health Help-Seeking Behavior: The Scavengers’ Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-15, May.

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